22/07/10
An authoritative assessment of UK marine waters reports good progress towards a vision of healthy and biologically diverse seas.
Charting Progress 2, published by Defra, was prepared by the UK Marine Monitoring and Assessment community of over 40 organisations in government, academia and the third sector. Peer-reviewed, it provides an authoritative context for the introduction of new sea management arrangements under the Marine and Coastal Access Act.
The main findings cover sea levels and surface temperature, progress of birds and mammals, fish stocks, pollution and litter.
Overall the message is positive. Good progress is reported in moving towards a vision of clean and safe seas. Pollution by hazardous subtances is lower in most regions and the diversity of fish species has increased.
However the report does not gloss over either uncertainty or negative findings. In each category - ocean processes, biodiversity, climate change etc - there is open admission of 'Gaps in knowledge'. Local problems are identified in industrialised estuaries and coasts and litter is pervasive, with plastics doubling in volume in five years in some places.
Water industry investment has been responsible for a major clean-up of beaches and inland waters in recent years. This work goes on with over £5 billion earmarked for monitoring and improvement of environmental quality between now and 2105.
For more information please contact:
Water UK Communication
020 7344 1804 (out of hours 07833 450544)
